One of Maison et Objet‘s most popular attractions this year was the “Inspirations” trend area, which was curated by a variety of experts. Working under this year’s overarching theme of Vivant (or Living), the inspiration started off with Nourritures Premières, or First Foods. Taking “humanity’s ancestral foods” as a starting point, the display featured conceptual experiments and products derived, both physically and metaphorically, from meat, milk, honey, vegetables and bread.

Artist Tamara Kostianovsky cannibalized her own clothes for the creation of a series of very meaty sculptures. Using a variety of fabrics and textures – from terrycloth towels to delicate lace – to mimic flesh, bone and fat, she crafted life-size renditions of livestock carcasses.

Scholten & Baijings’ stunning photorealistic vegetables are actually made of textiles. It’s only when you get up-close that you can see the woven textures and stitching.

Slovakian designer Tomáš Gabzdil Libertíny worked closely with professional beekeepers to create his “Vessel #1″ beeswax vase, which was created in an actual beehive. The glowing yellow vase anchored a room devoted to honey, which offered tastings of foamed honey.